Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
776. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the action his Department will take to increase the number of general practitioners by an additional 1,260 to 1,660 general practitioners by 2028 in order to meet the needs of population growth and the significant growth of those aged 65 and over 85 years of age who are naturally high users of the service [5005/22]
View answerThe Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
Several measures to increase the number of practicing GPs have been undertaken in recent years. Changes have been made to the entry provisions to the GMS scheme to facilitate more flexible/shared GMS contracts, and to the retirement provisions for GPs under the GMS scheme. An enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was also introduced.
Recent developments in relation to general practice, in particular the 2019 Agreement on Contractual Reform and Service Development, have helped to re-establish general practice in Ireland as an attractive career choice. The additional investment, which will amount to €210 million annually once the Agreement is fully implemented, provides for an increase in capitation fees, improved maternity and paternity arrangements as well as increased rural practice supports. In addition, targeted on-going funding of €2 million will also be set aside to provide additional support to practices in deprived urban areas.
The number of entrants to GP training has increased from 120 in 2009 to 233 in 2021, with large increases made in recent years. Further increases are expected as responsibility for training has transferred from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
